Propulsion apparatus



April 3 J. M. HOLLEY 3,086,492

' PROPULSION APPARATUS Filed Oct. 51 1960 United States Patent 3,086,492PROPULSION APPARATUS John M. I-Iolley, 3622 Lakeside Court, Tucker, Ga.Filed 'Oct. 31-, 1960, Ser- No. 66,064 2 Claims. (Cl; I15'28) Thisinvention relates to propulsion apparatus and, moreparticularly, toapparatus for trolling ,small boats.

It is'an object-of:this invention to provide novel propulsion:apparatus'for smallzboats, andthe like. Another object istoprovidepropulsionapparatus of the character described in which anadvantageous adjustment feature is incorporated whereby thepropulsionapparatus may be operated at maximum efficiency irrespectiveof the environment, i.e., the character: of'the. craft, the characterofthe water. surface, etc. Still another object isto-provider novelpropulsion apparatus formounting on the transom ofia smallboatih.whichanovel fin is provided on a propeller shaft. or tube. Otherobjects" and advantages of this invention may be. seen in the details ofconstruction and operation set down in this specification.

The invention, in conjunction with anillustrative embodiment thereof,will be explained inthe accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 is afragmentary side elevational view of a small boat equipped with theinventive apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus-equipped boat of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the rearmost portion of theapparatus seen in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view, partially in section, of anintermediate portion of the propulsion apparatus.

-In the illustration given and with particular reference to FIG. 2, thenumeral designates generally a small boat, while the numeral 11designates generally the propulsion apparatus embodying teachings of theinvention. The propulsion apparatus 11 is equipped with a fin 12 at theextreme rear end thereof (also see FIG. 1), and the boat 10 is propelledby moving the apparatus 11 over a horizontal arc shown by the brokenline arrows associated with the handle portion 13.

Now referring to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the propul sion apparatus11 includes an elongated member 14 which conveniently can be constructedof lightweight tubing. Optimally, diameter stock may be employed. Thus,a conventional rubber handle grip 13 may be readily installed at theforward end of the member 14. The member 14 is seen to include ahorizontally-disposed portion 15 at one end thereof and a secondhorizontally-disposed portion 16 at the other end thereof. Intermediatethe portions 15 and 16 is a vertically-inclined portion 17, giving themember .14 a generally Z-shape. The horizontal portion 15 is equippedwith a pair of aligned openings .18 through which a bolt 19 extends in agenerally vertical direction.

The bolt 19 is provided as part of a bracket generally designated 20 andwhich may be secured in the fashion shown to the transom 21 of the smallboat 10. The bracket 20 also includes washers 22 mounted on the bolt 19and the member 14 is con-fined on the bolt 19 by means of a wing-nut 23.It will be appreciated that the bolt 19 may be equipped with a shoulderor other abutment means for restricting the lower washer 22 againstdownward movement, thereby immobilizing the washer and confining themember 14 in the position shown. The openings 22 thus provide bearingsfor the member -14 so that the member 14 can be moved over a generallyhorizontal are for the desirable pivotal movement developing movement ofthe small boat 10.

The portion 16 at the sternmost portion of the mem- 2 her14'-is-equipped-.withthe fin '12, and for that purpose the fin 12 atits'forward end isequipped with alongitudinally-extending, generallycylindrical integral portion '24 (see'also FIG. 3). generallyhorizontally-extending bores 25 aligned with openings 26in theend'portion. 16 0f the member 14.

Bolts 27 extend'through the aligned openings 25 and 26.

to secure-the fin 12relative to the portion 16, the bolts 27being'retained in place by' means of wing-nuts-28.

The fin 12' itself is desirably constructed of a flexible material suchas rubber, and is seen to-be bifurcated as at 29. The recess providingthe bifurcation 29 is midway of theiheight of the fin-.12 and'thusdivides the fin into an upper. portion '30 and lower portion 31. portion.30- and 31- is equipped with a-pair of generallylongitudinally-disposed, laterally, extending ribs- 32 and 33,respectively. A third pair of ribs 34 is provided between-the upper pairof ribs 32 and thelower pair of ribs. 33, the ribs 34'being aligned:withthe apex of the recess providing the bifurcation 29-.

Ascan be most readily appreciated from aconsideration of'FIG. '1, thefin 12; is outwardly flared, i.e.-, the upper and lower edges 35 and 36,respectively, diverge in proceeding away from-the portion-24.Byreference. toaFIG. 3, it-will be seen that the flat sides=3-7 and 38ofthe :fin 12 converge. in proceeding away from the cylindrical receivedportion 24.

Means are provided in the intermediate portion 17 for varying the lengthof the member 14. This adjustment means can be readily appreciated froma consideration of FIG. 4. The portion 17 is seen to include two tubularportions, the rearmost being designated in FIG. 4 by the numeral 39, andthe more forward portion being designated by the numeral 40. As can beseen from FIG. 4,

- the tubular element 40 is received within the tubular element 39. Theforward end of the element 39 is seen to be equipped with male threads41 and threadedly received over the element 39 is a sleeve or couplingelement 42 which is equipped with female threads designated 43. Theextreme forward end 39a of the element 39 is seen to be equipped with aplurality of circumferentially-spac ed, longitudinally-extending slits44.

In operation, threading of the coupling 42 on the element 39 urges thetongue-like portions 45- necessarily developed by the slits 44 intogripping relation with the element 40. By unthreading the coupling 42,the gripping relationship is relieved and the element 39 can be movedrelative to the element 40 to provide a difierent degree of telescoping.

Desirably, the element 40 is equipped with an annular flange 46 at therearmost end thereof. The outer telescoping element 39 is equipped withcooperating flange means in the form of element 47, which togethernecessarily restrict the degree to which the element 40 can be withdrawnfrom the element 39. Desirably, a second coupling arrangement may beprovided in the horizontal portion 15 as at 48 (see FIG. 1).

In the operation of the device, the handle 13 is grasped by the operatoras one would grasp a tiller, and moved in a reciprocal fashion over ahorizontal are about the pivot provided by the bolt 19. By loosening thelocking bolt 20a provided as part of bracket 20, the entire device 11may be removed from a small boat for installation on another boat orstorage. When the same is installed on a boat having a higher or lowertransom, advantageously the length and the degree of penetration of theapparatus 11 may be altered. This is conveniently achieved byunthreading the coupling 42 to permit the tongue-like por tions 45 torelease their grip on the element 40. Thereafter, the element 39 may berepositioned to give a greater or shorter length to the element 14' and,at the same time,

Patented. Apr. 23,1 963.

The portion 24 is equipped with- Each a difierent degree of waterpenetration. In some instances, a change of water penetration may beadvisable because of the character of the water surface, i.e., extremewaves, or the like. The change in length of the device also makes fordifferent leverages when the same aredesired.

The construction and contour of the fin 12 also work for efiicientoperation in that the bifurcated stern end of the fin develops a lashingaction at the end of each horizontal arc.

While, in the foregoing specification, I have set forth a detaileddescription of an embodiment of the invention for the purpose ofillustrating the same, many variations in the details herein given willbe appreciated by those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In propulsion apparatus for mounting on a small boat transom, anelongated, generally Z-shaped member defined by generally horizontallyextending integral legs at the ends thereof and an intermediate,vertically inclined portion coupling said legs, pivot means on one ofsaid legs for moving said member through a generally horizontal are whensaid pivot means is secured to said transom, a generally verticallydisposed, fiat resilient bifurcated fin secured to the other of saidlegs and extending away therefrom, said fin means tapering in thicknessin proceeding away from said inclined portion and tapering in width inproceeding toward said inclined portion, said inclined portioncomprising a hollow tubular element and a second element telescopicallyreceived therein, the

end of said tubular element receiving said second element being equippedwith longitudinally-disposed, circumferentially spaced slits, and sleevemeans releasably mounted on said tubular element urging theslit-equipped end of said tubular element into gripping engagement withsaid second element.

2. In propulsion apparatus for small boats, and the like, an elongatedmember equipped with a handle at one end and fin mounting means at theother end, a bracket on said member adjacent to but spaced from said oneend for attaching said member to said boat for pivotal movement in agenerally horizontal plane, a fin on said fin-mounting means, said finbeing disposed in a generally vertical plane and constructed of flexiblematerial, said fin having its thickness dimension disposed generallyhorizontally, said thickness dimension decreasing horizontally away fromsaid fin mounting means, and means between said bracket and fin forvarying the portion of said member between said bracket and fin, saidportion being angularly upwardly inclined when said handle means andsaid fin have their long dimension disposed generally horizontally.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 635,95Anderson Oct. 31, 1899 1,324,722 Bergen Dec. 9, 1919 2,292,609 BuehlerAug. 11, 1942 2,525,349 Gulley Oct. 10, 1950

1. IN PROPULSION APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING ON A SMALL BOAT TRANSOM, AN ELONGATED, GENERALLY Z-SHAPED MEMBER DEFINED BY GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING INTEGRAL LEGS AT THE ENDS THEREOF AND AN INTERMEDIATE, VERTICALLY INCLINED PORTION COUPLING SAID LEGS, PIVOT MEANS ON ONE OF SAID LEGS FOR MOVING SAID MEMBER THROUGH A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL ARC WHEN SAID PIVOT MEANS IS SECURED TO SAID TRANSOM, A GENERALLY VERTICALLY DISPOSED, FLAT RESILIENT BIFURCATED FIN SECURED TO THE OTHER OF SAID LEGS AND EXTENDING AWAY THEREFROM, SAID FIN MEANS TAPERING IN THICKNESS IN PROCEEDING AWAY FROM SAID INCLINED PORTION AND TAPERING IN WIDTH IN PROCEEDING TOWARD SAID INCLINED PORTION, SAID INCLINED PORTION COMPRISING A HOLLOW TUBULAR ELEMENT AND A SECOND ELEMENT TELESCOPICALLY RECEIVED THEREIN, THE END OF SAID TUBULAR ELEMENT RECEIVING SAID SECOND ELEMENT BEING EQUIPPED WITH LONGITUDINALLY-DISPOSED, CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED SLITS, AND SLEEVE MEANS RELEASABLY MOUNTED ON SAID TUBULAR ELEMENT URGING THE SLIT-EQUIPPED END OF SAID TUBULAR ELEMENT INTO GRIPPING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SECOND ELEMENT. 